Chain and lock mechanism



B D. ROBINS CHAIN AND LOCK MEC HAN ISM Filed Janqzl, 1947 BY r Mr W ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1948 UNITED STATES PAT FICE This invention is an improvement in look mechanism, and especially a lock mechanism designed to secure the doors of homes, apartments and other quarters or enclosures used for living purposes or in connection therewith.

In its preferred form the invention embodies a lock of the chain type to be mounted on the interior of an enclosure and prevent the opening, by intruders and other unauthorized persons, of the door at the entrance; and an important object is to provide an inexpensive and easily operated lock of this description that can also be controlled by a key; so that the chain can be easily and conveniently disengaged, when necessary, by the proper person from without. The invention in its preferred form is illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, whereon:

Figure 1 shows the lock in holding position; and

Figure 2 is a similar view with the chain re leased.

On the drawings the numeral I indicates part of a door or the like, seen from the inside of the enclosure; and 2 is a fixed structure, such as part of the frame of the doorway or entrance in which the door is movably supported to swing to open and closed position. The lock comprises a flexible element or chain 3 afiixed at one end to a bar or plate 4, attached to the frame or wall by screws or other fastening means 5. This chain is also attached at its opposite end to a locking member 6, adapted to be engaged by a pair of bolts 1 and 8. These bolts are in such position that they can enter notches or recesses 9 in the opposite sides of the member 8; and when the latter is so engaged, the door is secured but can be opened to a slight extent, so that no one can pass between it and the edge of the frame or wall 2. I

The bolts I and 8 are horizontal, and the former is supported by a plate It, afiixed to the inner face of the door I by screws 5, and having guides H between which the bolt 1 is disposed. These guides have overturned projections I2 which engage the outer side of the bolt 1 and prevent displacement from the groove between said ribs or guides. The other bolt is disposed at the top of aplate l3, also fastened to the door by screws 5, and lies between similar but shorter guides with similar projections I2. The two bolts 1 and 8 are in line with each other; and the member is arranged vertically in a space between the plates l and [3. These plates are bent outward at their adjacent edges to form ribs or guides 5 at the sides of the catch, and these ribs have projections It so that the member 6 is retained between the 7 Claims. (Cl. 7093) guides [5. So long as the retaining member 6 is held between the guides E5, the door can be swung to open position only to the extent of the slack in the chain s.

The bolts '5 and 8 are connected by levers I! and 2!, the formerbeing pivoted to the door on a journal 18. At one end the leverl! hasa slot IS in which is a pin 20 connectingit to the bolt 8. At the other end the lever H is coupled to the lever 21; the latter being united at its'lower-extremity by a'pin 22 to the other bolt 1. These two levers ii and 2! are mounted on the door in position to present an inverted V. Obviously pressure upon the pin 23 joining the levers will force these levers to spread and move thebolts l and 8 away from each other. The bolt '5 has a projection 24, connected by a tension spring 25 to a fixed pin 26 on the plate it. The force of this spring is exerted on the movable parts or levers I! and 2'! to move the bolt 8 towards the b'oltl. When the member 6' is in the position shown in Figure 1, with the bolts I and 8 in' the recesses 9 the member 6 is held fast, and the door can be'op-ene'd only far enough to leave a small space or crack between it and the member 2, large enough to allow the occupant to peer out; but not enough to allow a body to pass it. To permit the doorto be fully opened the levers l i and 2| must be depressed to withdraw the bolts 1 and 8 and release the member 6. This manipulation can be effected from the inside of the enclosure; butwith ordinary chain locks the door cannot be released from the outside. The chain can always be loosened by pulling back on the projection 39, I

With my invention, the door equipped with 'the member 5 and the other parts above described can be opened from the outside also by means of a, locking device with akeyholeexposed 'on the outer'fa'ce of the door I. This device comprises a movable bolt 21 in a "casing 28 attached to the inner face 'of the door just above the junction point 23 of the levers I? and'zi. The bolt 2? is actuated by suitable mechanismin the casing 28, controlled by a key-barrel 29 which can only be operated by a key in the keyhole 38. The bolt 21 is usually withdrawn, but when a key is inserted into the hole 3E and turned, the bolt 2'! is projected and caused to press downward upon the tops of both levers I'l-and 2|. Then the bolts i and 8 areretracted and the member 6 drops out from between the guides 15; the door being thus fully released.

The ends of the .bolts l and 8 are preferably bevelled adjacent the guides. i5, and the upper end of the member I6 is tapered .to a point as indie cated at 32. When the member 6 is to be engaged it is merely pushed upward, sliding between the guides l5 till the tapered upper end 32 slips past the bevelled ends 3| of bolts 1 and 8. The bevelled ends of bolts 1 and 8 are indicated at 3|.

The member 6 can also be secured against release by operation of the bolt 21 by means of a latch mounted in a plate 33 screwed tight to the door I, adjacent one end of the plate l0, and just above thei-boltt'rl plate supportsa vertical? latch 34 ina-bearing 35. This bearing has'aslot 36 of the shape of an inverted L, and in the slot is a pin 31 attached to the latch 34 to move it up or down. The latch 34- will fit the: bearing, 35; loosely enough to allow the pin 31 to enter the horizontal part of the slot to keep.the bolt inraised position. Beneath andlindine, with the. latch 34 the plate 1 has a recess 38. When the bolts 1 and 8 are projected into the recessest of the member 6, the shoulder 39 at the rear end oh thesrbolt I engages the end. of! the upper, rib. I ll on .the. plate.- l0, exposing; the: recess 38. The. each of, theev latch. 3.4 can, be, dropped, into. this, recess and then the bolt 21 cannot-bamadeto: act tofretract the, boltss 1'. and: 8. The door will not-v be, released from; the; outside evenif: the propenkey, is-=inserted:into the key-barrel '29; At the rear or'the recessaiifi-oftheplate l0 theedgeis-bentzoutward at 41! toserverassavstop, limitingthe outward movement; of the-sbolt: I: The -mem.-- berrfil-has a knob, 4 I I to makeritceasier, to handle.- whenwit is inserted; from:below into theaspacel be tween, theribs I51,

The chain: lock. mechanism can thus be; ad justed torhold thev dooryfromztheinside ofthe premises; When the owner goes out; hecan re-- enter by: thrusting, a key-in the :cylinder- 29 and whenhe is in: the-enclosure; the locking, mechaa nismcan be soset thatttbe latch 3% will vholdthe. bolts-J; and 8*; against withdrawaheven if a-.keyfitting the; barrel 2 e giszemployed; By; lifting thev latch 34 withthe-button or pin 3,1-and turningthe latch:.34 ta-putthe-pin- 35,-: in the;-top of} the-slot: 36; .thermemberrfirisa then left free-to be controlled byythezlocking (EV-108x282 fromawithout.

Thisrlock mechanism-ltlrusrcon structediis simple.- andiefiective, easy togoperate, and-readily adjust-- able asset forth a130, afiord, security whether: theocoupantdszatzhome: or absent;

' It ;is.-to benotedmhat'. thBFdGOIT cambereleased while: it: is ajar; simply-loypulling backward on: the" projection 39: Thisrwill disengage; the- 106k ing member 63, Closing-of the-dookfirst inorder, to effect the disconnection of the chain; is notL llfonthepurpose.

Also; while I: have:shownithepv membertand. bolts I?and-,a-zas beingisquare'or-angular incross; section; .lfimamobviously givethemea round'iorm: and mounti them so astobe movablein tubular guides with side openings on slots fortherpins 2ll= and'ZZ; and the knob; 41. These: tubular guides can be afiixedzto thedoorin any suitablermannen.

Inzplace of' tubular? guides; bearing: rings: ens circling: th -bolts at' two tor: more pointsand suit:- ably amxed tothe door-l can also bezemployed,

Further; without changing the combination in; any: respect; the.=locl can be so constructed as-to, omit'the bolt-i-fliand usezonly the-bolt T to engage. thetmember 6: In' this case-ithe lever I11 willinot ext'endiiari below the pivot: l8:

Likewise, instead of a slidable latch 34-; an or-- dinary pivoted-catchcan be;substitutedtoengage the; projection orrshoulder: 3.93 If: thesweightw of: the-member 6 ;is not"suflicientttc': causeait-zto .drop;

4 out from between the guideways I? when the bolts 1 and 8 are disengaged, a spring can be used to facilitate this action, the spring being attached to the bottom of the member 6 and to a fixed point on the door I.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

1'. Lock mechanism comprising a member for the inner face of a door or the like, a flexible element. to attachzsaid memberv to a fixed structure adjacent said door; movable--means on the door to engage said member and hold it in securing position, said means including a pair of slidable bolts-,pngat, each side of the member, and movable parts connecting said bolts so that they move in-unis'on'.

2., Lockimechanismlaccording to claim 1, which also has a locking device operable from the outer side'ofithe door to actuate said movable parts and cause the bolts to be retracted and release said member.

3, Locking mechanism according. to: claim 1, having a-latch on the-inner face of -the door to enga e one; of said bolts and prevent, the release of said member.

-to;the1inner; face of the; door with a space betweenthem to receivesaid member, said plates having their, adjacent terminal edges shaped to,v formeaguidewayior said member, each'plate also havingzai'guideway forabolt'disposed at each side ofsaidmember; the latter having recesses tobe engaged by the ends of said bolts, a lever pivoted on the door and conneoted, toronebolt, asecond lever; pinned-to the end: of thefirst, lever and r to the other bolt, and a spring connected to one of:s.aid'-beltsand a fixedpoint to urge the same towards the member.

5; The; lock; mechanism accordingto claim- 4, which: also comprises a"; latch aflixed-to-the door.

above one; of saidbolts, the; plate; carrying said. bolti havingsa' recessat' therear of the bolt for;

they latch: to enterand, prevent withdrawal. of 3 .thei'innere faceof adoor or the like, afleXible-element to attach; said memberto a fixed structure adj acentisaid'door movable means on th3d00f--t0r engage said member'andqholdlit in securing posi,

tion; .said means including-a slidable bolt, atone side of the member, and means including-armowable part: to: actuate; said bolt, and a latch; on

therinner. facezof: saidi'd'oor in position to; engage Said?b01t:..

BERTD.- ROBINS;

REFERENCES; CITED,

The followingreferences are of record'in the file of this-patent:

UNIIEDs'rArrEs PAYIENTS:

Number Name Date 1,924,627, Segal Aug.'29, 1933, 1,988,049- Reiner Jan. 15, 1 935 

